Wheel-making machine



Nov. 15, 1938. JOHNSON v 2,136,619

WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1956 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1938. s. A. JOHNSON WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 N N W mm m m? w, 3 m mw E I \m. 915.1% 3 2 .mlg.

Nov. 15, 1938. G, A HN 2,136,619

WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed 001,. 28 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 15, 1938. G. A. JOHNSON WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 NOV. 15, 1938. g'A JQHN$ON 2,136,619

WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ,7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 15, 1938. G. JOHNSON WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed 000. 28, 1956 WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Fig/0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL-MAKING MACHINE Gustave A. Johnson, Berwyn, 111., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 28,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel making machine. More specifically it relates to machine for assembling and securing the rim ends of metal spokes to a metal rim.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for manufacturing spoked metallic wheels.

Another principal object is the bringing to gether in a cooperating manner, means for holding the wheel elements to be secured together, means for electrically heating the metal to be worked, means for forming the metal, and means for successively bringing the work to the heating means and to the forming means.

Another object is the provision of adjustments to adapt the machine to a wide range of sizes of wheels and for wheels with spokes arranged at Various angular distances apart and with different stagger angles.

Other Objects such as improvements in selfadjusting spoke heating and heading means will be apparent from the detailed description to follow.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by a. machine as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a wheel machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the machine 90 shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the heating unit of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the heating unit shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View of the riveting unit of the machine shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure '7 is a sectional view of the riveting portion of the machine shown in Figure 6 at the beginning of the forming operation;

Figure 8 is an end view of the spoke forming unit shown in Figure Figure 9 is a plan View of the Wheel chucking unit or" the machine with a portion broken away in horizontal section to show the operating mechanism;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the wheel chucking unit with portions broken away in section better to show the operating mechanism;

Figure 11 is a vertical section through the center of the wheel chucking unit; r Figure 12 is a horizontalsection taken on the line l2-l2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a section taken on the line l3l3 of Figure 5;

Figure 14 is a section taken on the line I 4-H of Figure 9; and,

1936, Serial No. 107,999

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the spoke aligning block on the wheel chucking unit.

The wheel making machine embodying the invention, as shown in the drawings, consists of three basic units which are arranged to function cooperatively. These units, namely, the wheel supporting and indexing unit, the spoke heating unit and the spoke forming unit will first be described independently.

The supporting structure 10 of the wheel holding and indexing unit, as shown in Figures 9, 1 and 11, is provided with guides H I-shaped in cross section which are slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation in channels formed in guide members [2 rigidly mounted on the main base i3 which forms a base for the entire machine. The supporting structure [0 is formed centrally with a cylinder M in which a two-way piston 15 is mounted for reciprocation. Conduits connecting with the ends of the cylinder provide for the supply of fluid under pressure to either side of the cylinder whereby it may be positively moved in either direction.

Above the frame structure l0, an extension structure U3 is formed with a large central bore I1. A flanged sleeve member I8 is rotatably mounted in said bore, suitable bearing seats and surfaces being provided. The flange is extended to form a circular horizontal table [9 on which the wheel parts are mounted. An annular recess 29 in the bottom of the table 19 houses an annular ring 2|, a cover 22 retaining the ring in position.

As best shown in Figure 9, the ring 2| is connected by links 23 with radially slidable members 24 mounted on the face of the table I9. Said members carry upstanding lugs 25 adapted to engage the periphery of a rim 26 placed in a horizontal position on the table. The edges of the rim also abut the members 24 and may be held in position when of a flanged construction by clamps 21 pivoted on a vertical axis on the table l9 and pivotally connected with the member 24. Said clamps are provided with horizontal extensions 23 which are shaped to grip the flange of the rim.

As best shown in Figure 9, a portion of the ring 2! is formed with gear teeth which are engaged by the teeth of a rack 29. Said rack is operable by a small two way fluid operated piston 30 mounted in a small cylinder carried on the table l9. Suitable conduits are provided for supplying fluid under pressure to either end of the piston 30 for clamping the wheel rim 26 rigidly in position and for releasing the clamps for removal of the wheel.

In the bore formed within the sleeve member l8, (Figure 1 a guide piston 3| forms a bearing surface for a piston rod 32 connected to the piston I5. A hub centering and holding shaft 33 extends from the piston 3| through and above the table I9. A wheel hub 34 with spokes 35 secured thereto is mounted on the shaft 33, a suitable spacer washer 36 being utilized to position the hub in the proper axial position with respect to the rim 25 when the first set of spokes is secured.

Adjacent the upper end of the hub shaft 33, an annular recess 3! is formed to receive a U-shape locking member 38. To position the hub the piston i5 is raised; the locking member 38 is pushed into position; and the piston is lowered to clamp the hub in position. To position the spider as a spoke and hub assembly is designated in this art, a slotted member 39 (Figures 9, l1, and 15) is shown rigidly mounted on the table l9 in a position to engage one of the spokes.

For adjusting the table height, a pair of cylinders 40 (Figure 10) are mounted on the base I3. Each cylinder contains a two-way fluid actuated piston 4! and is provided with conduits for supplying and removing fluid from either side of the piston. The pistons 4i are provided with vertically extending piston rods 42 which are rigidly secured to laterally extending brackets 43 integral with the member [6. By means of this piston arrangem nt, the entire wheel supporting and indexing unit may be moved vertically in either direction at will.

To provide for turning the table l9 for indexing a splined shaft 44 carried rotatably by one of the extensions 43 slidably extends through a bevel gear 45 and slidably and rotatably through a bearing boss formed on the base 13. The gear is driven by any suitable drive mechanism such as the bevel gear 45 illustrated, carried by the shaft 46 shown in Figures 1, l0, and 12. An automatic indexing device operable to disconnect the drive mechanism after movement of the table a predetermined angle such as is well known in the art is preferably utilized. At its upper end the shaft 44 carries a gear 41 positioned to engage and drive a ring gear 48 mounted beneath the table l9 on the cover plate 22.

The heating unit, best shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5, is mounted on a supporting structure 49 carried by a base 50. Said base is provided with rollers 5i adapted to follow arcuate tracks formed on the main base l3 to position the heating unit at the desired angular position with respect to the riveting unit. Suitable means may be provided for locking the base 50 in position, as adjustment is made only when setting the machine for different wheels. The frame structure 52 of the heating unit is pivotally mounted on the supporting structure 49 by a transverse shaft 53. Adjustable links 54 pivotally connected to the supporting structure 49 and to the frame structure 52 provide means for tilting the heating unit to provide for wheels having the spokes arranged at different stagger angles. The supporting structure 49 is also mounted for reciprocation on the base 50 to provide for wheels of different diameter. The adjustment may be made by any suitable mechanism, a portion of which is represented by the square shank screw 55.

A duplex cylinder 56 is rigidly mounted on the frame structure 52, as shown in Figure 3. At the right end of the cylinder a two way piston 51 is mounted for reciprocation with a piston rod 58 extending through a suitable packed fitting. The piston rod 58 is rigidly secured to a carriage 59. Said carriage includes a pair of spaced side members 60 extending through the frame structure 52. As best shown in Figure 4, the side members 59 are slidable on a frame seat 6| at one side of the framestructure and on a groove and ridge seat 62 at the other side of the frame structure. To hold the members 60 in position, horizontal bars 63 are bolted to a portion of the frame structure. By means of this construction the carriage 59 is mounted for reciprocation across the frame structure toward and away from "the location of the wheel to be operated upon.

As shown in Figure 13, the side frame members B0 are secured to a casing 64 rectangular in horizontal cross section. Two mating clamping jaws 65 are pivotally connected together at the center by a tongue and groove construction on a pin 56. The pin 66 is pivoted in the side walls of a surrounding rectangular member 61 which is fitted in the casing 64 with sufficient looseness to move freely on its pivot pin 68. The pivot pin 68 extends through the member 61 at one side of the jaws and through the casing 64. The pivot pin 66 extends through the outer Wall of the casing 64 through an opening sufficiently large to permit free pivoting movement of the member 61 about its pivot pin 68.

A spring housing member 69 pivotally mounted on an upward extension of the casing 64 extending forwardly between the jaws carries a spring pressed plunger 10 pivotally connected to the outward extension of the pin 56. The spring pressure on said plunger tends to balance the jaws in centered position. At the upper end of one of the jaws 65, a piston rod H is pivotally connected. Said rod extends intoatwoway piston fitted in a cylinder formed in a casing I2. Said cylinder casing is pivotally connected to the other jaw 65. Suitable conduits are provided for supplying and removing fluid to and from either side of the piston. A spring 13 is shown connecting the upper ends of the jaws urging them toward a. position with the jaws open.

At their lower ends the jaws 65 are provided with mating recesses fitted with dies 14 adapted to grip the spokes of a wheel on which a heating operation is to be performed. A guide member 65' secured to one of the jaws 55 engages a slot formed in the other jaw to maintain the jaws in accurate position with respect to each other whereby a perfect contact may be made with the spoke end to be heated. Laminated copper conductors 16 are secured to each of the jaws 55. The conductors lead to an electrical transformer ll of adequate capacity to supply the desired current mounted on side plates 59' secured to the sides of the frame structure 52, as best shown in Figure 5.

At the end of the duplex cylinder 56 opposite the piston 51, as shown in Figure 3, a two-way piston 18 is mounted. Conduits are provided for delivering fluid under pressure to either side of the pistons 18 and 57. The piston rod 19 of the piston 18 is connected to a heating die fixture 80. Said fixture is slidably mounted on a pin 8| which is rigidly secured to. a portion of the frame structure 52 and is electrically insulated from its supports. A heating die 82 carried by the fixture is positioned and formed to engage the ends of spokes mounted on the supporting and indexing table heretofore described; A laminated copper conductor 83 is connected to the fixture 80 and to the transformer TI for supplying current to the heating die 82. It will be understood from the above description that current from the transformer 11 is passed through a complete circuit including the conductors 83, the fixture 80, the heating die 82, the spoke end, the heating dies 14, the jaws 65, and the conductors 18. The

details of the transformer and the controlling means therefor have not been shown in detail as such constructions are well known in the electric heating art.

The spoke forming unit, as shown in the complete machine in Figures 1 and 2, is mounted on a supporting structure 84 which is mounted for reciprocation on the base I3 to accommodate wheels of different diameters. The slidable movement may be obtained by any conventional mechanism and may be controlled by an adjusting screw 85. The frame structure 89 of the riveting unit is pivotally mounted on trunnions on the supporting structure 84. An adjustable link 88 provides means for angling the riveting unit about a transverse axis to adapt the machine to Wheels having different stagger angles.

The frame structure 86, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, is generally U-shaped in cross section to provide for mounting a movable structure 81 which carries the heading and forming mechanism. Said structure is formed with two side flanges 88 and 89 which seat respectively on a flat guide surface 98 and a V-shaped guide surface 9I formed on oif-set portions of the supporting structure 86. Retaining bars 92 bolted to the top of the supporting structure 86 extend over the side flanges 88 and 89 to form a track for the side flanges and to restrain movement of the supporting structure to reciprocation. At the rear end of the supporting structure 86 a large cylinder 93 is provided for a reciprocating piston 94. Said piston is mounted on a shaft 95 which extends forwardly to carry a head forming die 96. The shaft 95 extends rearwardly through a packed joint and is formed with an enlarged head 91 which abuts the flange 98 of a sleeve 99. Said sleeve is mounted for reciprocation in an extension I88 of the frame structure. A plurality of springs I8I fitted in bores formed in the extension I88 abut the flange 91. By means of these springs the shaft 95 is resiliently urged in an outward direction. A conduit I82 is provided for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder 93. As the structure 81 is free to slide along the support on frame structure 86 fluid pressure within the cylinder 93 acts to move the shaft 95 and the parts carried thereby to the right and to move the structure 81 and the parts carried thereby to the left. The pressure of the springs I8I tend to bias this movement to an extent depending upon the compres sion rate of the springs.

The forward end of the structure 81 extends vertically to support a spoke clamping mechanism. Two similar jaws I83 are pivotally mounted on bearing shafts I84 rigidly secured to the structure 81. A cover plate I85 forms with the vertical face of the structure 81 and laterally spaced forward extensions I86 thereof shown in Figures 1, 2, and 6 an encasing means for the pivoted ends of the clamps I83.

At their upper ends the clamps I83 are connected by toggle links I81 with the piston rod I88 of a two-way piston I89. Said piston is mounted in a cylinder I I8 secured to the vertical face of the structure 81. Conduits III are provided for delivering fluid under pressure to either side of the piston I89 whereby the clamps I83 may be moved with the jaws into clamping position and may be unclamped from the spokes. The toggle links I81 provide a means whereby a very great pressure may be applied to the jaws of the clamps with a moderate pressure of the actuating fluid in the cylinder II8.

die blocks II2 are formed at the ends adjacent the rim with recesses I I9 which are approximately the shape of the shoulder to be formed within the rim. Recesses are formed in the die blocks I I2, also in the clamps I83, to provide for the in-- sertion of a stop arm H4. Said arm extends upwardly and rearwardly into a slot formed in the structure 81 where it is mounted on a shaft I I5. Said shaft extends transversely as shown in Figure 6 and is connected to a switch lever II6 as shown in'Figure 8. Said lever is provided with a member H1 at its upper end which is adapted to operate a switch contained in a casing H8. Said switch may be of any conventional construction and is shown only diagrammatically. It is to be used for operating a control means regulating the height of the wheel carrying table I9. It may be used to control directly through a conventional relay switch the current to a motor which delivers fluid to the table elevating cylinders 48. When the wheel is raised until the spoke engages the lever arm I I4 the table lifting mechanism is thrown out whereby the spoke 35 is in position to be gripped by the jaws of the clamps I83. After the spoke has been gripped by the die blocks H2 fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 93. The die blocks II2 move forward and the head forming die I I9 carried by an extension of the shaft 95 moves into contact with the outer end of the spoke, as shown in Figure 5. As the forces exerted are action and reaction, they are substantially the same on each side of the rim. The springs I81 slightly unbalance this force. By means of a metal forming operation known as shave-back in the wheel making art, the die blocks H2 move forwardly gathering the excess metal from the enlarged spoke end to form a shoulder inside the rim. At the same time the die H9 moves forwardly to form a head on the outside of the rim. It will be understood therefore, that the die blocks H2 do not closely grip the spokes along their length, as there is relative movement, as the blocks move along the spokes to shave back material for a shoulder inside the rim.

The blocks I I2 and the header I I9 must not touch the rim at the closed riveted position. There is very little tendency to pull the spoke to create tension, the forces being substantially the same in both directions on the enlarged spoke end. As the spoke end is heated previous to this operation cooling of the material has some effect on the tension of the spoke. It is possible, however, with this machine to control the tension within the desired range. In previous types of machines and methods of assembling wheels, the control of tension has been a major problem. In most methods the tension obtained was excessive.

Said major steps in the operation of the machine above described have been explained in connection with a description of the units and component parts thereof. In actual operation of this machine, a large number of automatic and semi-automatic controls are incorporated to assist the operator in the work and to eliminate errors due to the human element. It has not been considered advisable to show the controls and the various hydraulic pumps and other mechanisms, as these devices and their modes of operation and control are well-known in the art. For example, very elaborate mechanism is required to control the wheel chucking unit by merely touching labeled control buttons which raise or lower the platform, rotate the wheel carrying table, and clamp and unclamp the rim and the spider. One set of controls is utilized for Operating heating units and still another set for the riveting unit. Also these controls are interconnected so as to be semi-automatic, that is so that one operation, such as heating will automatically follow the final chucking of the wheel spider and rim. It is not believed, however, that these controls and their interconnection are features amounting to invention, as they are obvious to a skilled mechanism in this field of activity. Due to the complicated nature of the machine, it is believed that the showing of the novel features has been greatly improved by the elimination of many of the structural details and of substantially all of the controlling mechanisms.

The machine as described is designed to complete the final operation in a particular type of wheel in which the rim is pre-formed as a continuous band fashioned to receive the spokes. In a preliminary operation the hub is located centrally of the rim and spokes are secured thereto by an existing method. The spokes are inserted through the openings in the rims and subsequently secured to the hub with a uniform predetermined extension beyond the outer surface of the rim. The spokes are provided with an upset end portion previously referred to which contains sufficient material inside the rim to provide a set shoulder inside the rim by the shave-back method. Sufficient material is provided outside the rim for forming a head of suitable size. There is substantially no endwise movement of the spoke end with respect to the rim during formation of the head and shoulder.

The pre-formed wheel including a rim and a spider with the spokes loosely extending through the rim is placed on the table with the hub closely fitting the shaft 33. Wheels of the type particularly adapted to be constructed by this machine usually have two sets of spokes secured to the tub in axially spaced planes and arranged at a stagger angle to bring the rim ends together either in the same plane or somewhat spaced apart so as to be secured to a central groove in the rim. The spokes of one set are first secured in position. Figure 9 shows the clamping arrangement of the hub for securing the first set of spokes in position. The hub 34 is shown as contacting the plate 35. The piston I5 is raised after the wheels are laid in position and is lowered after inserting the U-clamp member into the recess below the head 3'1. The hub is then securely clamped in position against axial movement. The rim clamps 25 are simultaneously moved in radially to clamp the rim in concentric position with respect to the hub by op eration of the piston controlled rack 29. At the same time the clamps 28 engage the flanges on the rim to hold the rim securely against the table. Due to the cross sectional strength of the rim, as illustrated the clamping means prevents any substantial distortion of the rim during the riveting operation. As this is an important feature of this method, it might be necessary with rims of less structural strength to provide a more substantial clamping means.

With the wheel mounted on the table I9 the heating and riveting units are positioned at the proper angle in alignment with the spokes and the heating unit is positioned at an angle to contact with the desired spoke. A sixteen-spoke wheel is illustrated in Figure 2. Considering the spoke engaged by the heating unit as No. 1 spoke, No. 7 is engaged by the riveting unit.

With the heating jaws open and the riveting clamps open, the wheel supporting table I9 is lifted vertically until stopped in proper position by the stop mechanism previously described which is actuated by the lever arm H4 when it contacts with a spoke 35 and is moved a predetermined angle distance. The jaws are then clamped on the spoke and pressure is applied on the heating die 82 suflicient to form a suitable electrical contact with the spoke end. The enlarged end portion of the spoke is heated to a temperature somewhat above that required for the heading operation as an appreciable time during which cooling takes place elapses during the indexing operation between the heating and riveting or forming. As there i considerable variation in wheel rim sizes, it is neoesary to allow for a floating action of the heating jaws to permit proper gripping of the spokes. The floating action is provided for by pivotally mounting the clamps of the heating jaws on the carrier 61, as best shown in Figure 13, which permits a certain vertical movement of the jaws and a certain angular movement of the lower ends so that the spoke may be properly gripped even if it is somewhat out of the theoretical angular position.

The floating action of the carriage 59 allows a gripping of the spoke and a contact with the end thereof by action and re-action pressures which are substantially the same. The floating movement of the carriage takes care of any variation in the length of the spoke which projects beyond the rim.

After the No. 1 spoke has been heated during which time the riveting unit is maintained inoperative, the heating jaws are disengaged and the heating die 82 is withdrawn. The wheel supporting table is then lowered sufiiciently to clear the spoke engaging elements during rotation of the table. It is then rotated through an angular distance sufiicient to bring the No. 1 spoke in an gular alignment with the riveting clamps whereby No. 11 spoke is brought into alignment with the heating jaws. As previously pointed outthis indexing may be accomplished by automatic mechanism as is at present used in the wheel making art. The table is again raised and both the heating and riveting units are put into operation. The clamps H13 surround the No. 1 spoke 35 back of the enlarged end portion, as previously described. Pressur is then applied by the piston 94 which forms a head outside the rim and a shoulder inside, as described in connection with the elements making up the mechanism. The heading die H9 is out, as shown in Figure '7, to form a rounded head.

It will be understood that after the first heating operation, the heating and heading operations are carried on simultaneously. After No. 1 spoke has been riveted during which time No. 11 is heated, the wheel is rotated until No. 11 is in position under the riveting jaws. This movement brings No. 8 spoke to the heating unit. In succession the following spokes are heated and united 1, 8, 15, 6, 13, 4, 11, 2, 9, 16, 7, 14, and 5. As the riveted spokes are secured at substantially diametrically opposite points in succession there is little tendency to pull the wheel out of round or away from a concentric position. With different numbers of spokes a machine of this type may be adjusted to properly engage the spoke to heat and rivet the proper spokes in succession.

After the spokes of one set have been secured, the wheel is removed from the chucking device and is turned over as shown in Figure 8 without the stop washer 36. Tension in the desired amount may then be applied on the set of spokes which has been secured by pulling the hub axially relative to the rim. Tension put into the spokes by this method tends to increase tension obtained in the'second set of spokes when the axial force on the hub is released. By this means tension greater than that obtained by cooling of the heated spoke ends, may be imparted to the wheel.

It is to be understood that all of the parts necessary to operate a machine as described have not been shown in detail as such would tend to obscure the novel features of the machine. A full showing, however has been made of the parts essential in the operation of the machine for practicing a wheel manufacturing method, as described. It is to be understood that applicant has shown only a preferred embodiment of his invention which has been constructed to practice the invention and that he claims as his invention all modified devices covered by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a wheel making machine and in combination therewith, a wheel supporting and indexing unit comprising a supporting structure, a hub centering shaft mounted on said structure, means for exerting downward pressure on the hub, means forming an abutment whereby the hub may be rigidly held in position, means for clamping a rim to the supporting structure concentric with respect to the hub, means for lifting and lowering the supporting structure, and means for rotating the supporting structure to bring successive spokes into operating position.

2. In a wheel making machine the combination of a spoke heating unit including a supporting structure, a frame structure mounted for reciprocation thereon, a cylinder mounted on the frame structure, a two-way piston mounted in said cylinder for reciprocating the frame structure, a carrier member pivotally mounted on an axis extending in the direction of reciprocation on said frame structure, mating heating jaws pivoted together on said carrier member whereby the jaws have a limited floating movement laterally and vertically, means for applying pressure to the jaws for engaging a spoke to be heated inside the rim, a die holding member mounted for reciprocation on. the supporting structure, a second two-way piston mounted in the cylinder for reciprocating said member, said pistons being supplied with fluid under the same pressure and being of the same diameter whereby substantially the same pressure is applied to the frame structure and to the carrier member, a transformer mounted on the frame structure, a heating die associated with the die holding member, and means for supplying heating current to the jaws and to the die whereby the end of an engaged spoke is heated.

3. In a wheel making machine the combination of a forming and heading unit including a supporting structure, a frame structure mounted for reciprocation thereon, a cylinder mounted on said supporting structure, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a shaft carried by said piston, a head forming die member carried on said shaft, means for supporting a wheel rim and spider assembly with a spoke in alignment with said shaft and with the outer end adjacent said die member, each spoke having an enlarged portion adjacent its outer end forming a shoulder thereon, shoulder forming dies carried by said supporting structure, said dies being formed as complementary halves adapted to embrace the spoke inside the .rim adjacent the enlarged portion thereof, said dies loosely gripping the spoke adjacent the aforesaid shoulder, and means for applying fluid under pressure to the cylinder whereby pressure is applied against the end of the spoke and. against said shoulder thereon.

4. A wheel making machine comprising a chucking unit including means for rigidly securing a spoked hub in position, means for holding a rim through which the spokes extend rigidly in position coaxially with respect to the hub, and means for indexing the Wheel by angular movement thereof a predetermined angular distance; a spoke heating unit including a supporting structure, movable spoke gripping members floatingly carried by said structure, means for engaging said members with 2. spoke inside and adjacent the rim, an electrode carried by the structure and movable with respect thereto along an extended radius of the spoke, means for contact ,ing said electrode with the spoke and. means for supplying current to the grip-ping members and the electrode for heating the end portion of the spoke; and a forming and heading unit including die blocks formed to embrace the spoke inside and closely adjacent the rim, a supporting structure, means for mounting said die members on said structure, a die member mounted for ,movement on the supporting structure on an extended radius of the spoke, and means for simultaneously gripping the spoke and applying pressure to the radially movable die to simultaneously form a shoulder inside the rim and a head outside the rim.

5. A wheel-making machine comprising a chucking unit including means for rigidly securing a spoked hub in position, means for holding a rim through which the spokes extend rigidly in position coaxially with respect to the hub, and means for indexing the wheel by angular movement thereof; a spoke heating unit including a supporting structure, spoke gripping members carried by said structure, means for engaging said lmembers with a spoke inside and adjacent the rim, an electrode carried by the structure, means for contacting said electrode with the spoke and means for supplying current to the gripping members and the electrode for heating the end portion of the spoke; and a forming and heading unit including die blocks formed to embrace the spoke inside the rim, a supporting structure, means for mounting said die members on said structure, a die member mounted for movement on the supporting structure, and means for simultaneously gripping the spoke and applying pressure to the radially movable die to simultaneously form a shoulder inside the rim and a head outside the rim. GUSTAVE A. JOHNSON. 

